If you have lung issues that disrupt your daily life, you can breathe a sigh of relief after lung surgery. At Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group, located in Greater Heights and Downtown Houston, Texas, Pearland, Texas, and an office in Kingwood, Texas, the team of lung specialists offers procedures including minimally invasive thoracoscopy and open surgery. Call the office nearest you or book your appointment online.
Lung surgery refers to any procedure involving lung repair, restoration, or removal. Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group surgeons regularly perform several types of lung surgery to help people overcome serious health challenges.
Some common reasons for lung surgery can include:
While most lung surgeries involve repairs or tissue removal, some procedures may be mainly diagnostic, in which your surgeon views your lungs up close but doesn't make any changes at that time.
Lung surgery is either a minimally invasive or an open procedure. With a minimally invasive procedure, or thoracoscopy, your surgeon creates a few tiny chest area incisions on your side.
Then, they view your lungs using a thoracoscope — a very thin tube with a camera at the tip. If you need any surgical corrections, your doctor may do this using small surgical tools in the other incisions.
In some cases, small incisions may not provide adequate viewing or room for your surgeon to work. They may need to perform an open procedure with a larger incision at that point.
You'll generally stay in the hospital for a few days after lung surgery. The Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group provides excellent support after your surgery, including detailed home recovery instructions, wound care directions, and pain medication.
Lung surgery recovery varies with the procedure and person, but in general, the team suggests taking it slow for the first couple of days. They recommend a 90-minute midday nap and walking a few times a day. Increase your activity level gradually without growing exhausted.
After open lung surgery, most people go back to work after a month or six weeks. Most people feel fairly normal at the two to three-month mark. The team is here to answer your questions and support you as you return to a normal life, so don't hesitate to reach out for help.
Book your lung surgery consultation by calling Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group or clicking on the online booking tool.
